Movie review: Four British acting legends spill secrets in ‘Tea with the Dames’

Al Alexander More Content Now

Wednesday

Oct 3, 2018 at 1:36 PMOct 3, 2018 at 1:36 PM

The ghost of Laurence Olivier looms in every nook and cranny of the Sussex cottage where Roger Michell lay our scene for “Tea with the Dames.” You see him in the photos and awards sprinkled about the house. You also hear his name oft repeated by the four celebrated actresses — Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Eileen Atkins and Joan Plowright — gathered there for their annual reunion to mark decades of friendship and divine craft.

What’s different this time is that we get to be the fly on the wall, eavesdropping on their frank, often funny, ruminations on life, career and husbands, the most famous being Olivier, to whom Plowright was married for his final 28 years. His name comes up a lot, mostly because he was a mentor to all four, taking them under his wing as artistic director of the Royal National Theatre and allowing them to fledge into careers that earned all four the title of “Dame,” the female version of British knighthood.

It’s fun to listen to them dish on the Great One, including Plowright who has no problem mentioning that life with “Larry” was never easy, no matter if we’re talking his role as husband, co-star or director. At one point, Smith candidly admits she was scared of him. And Plowright retorts, he was also scared of Smith, mostly because of how she could purposely trip him up onstage. Atkins and Dench have similar anecdotes to offer, coyly discussing triumphs and mishaps, as Sir Laurence looks on from a photo prominent in the background of the gorgeous cottage he and Plowright turned into a rural paradise.

Thanks to a spot of rain, what started out as tea in the garden transforms into drinks in the living and dining rooms, as the water and quips pour down. And what fascinating tales they have to tell, whether it’s from the time they all met back in their days at the Old Vic, or more recent successes in blockbuster film franchises under the banners of “Potter” and “Bond.” Says Dench, “my husband always told me he wanted to be married to a Bond girl,” a fantasy fulfilled when she was cast as M in eight 007 films.

As for “Potter,” Smith is only mildly perturbed when mentioning that she and co-star Alan Rickman struggled to vary their reaction shots whenever Harry, Hermione or Ron uttered something cute. More telling is her shocking admission that she’s never watched an episode of “Downton Abbey,” despite winning three Emmys for her indelible role as cantankerous Lady Grantham.

Among the many photos and film clips, we are granted a glimpse of her lacerating one-liners from “Gosford Park,” a movie in which she co-starred with Atkins, who just happened to co-create the similar “Upstairs, Downstairs” back in the 1970s. But did we really need reminding Smith shared top billing with Plowright and Dench in the under-steeped “Tea with Mussolini”? As I remember, that was one of those pictures where the actors had fun but we didn’t.

Perhaps that was because the women viewed movies and TV less as a means for artistic expression and more as a way to pay the bills in order to do what they love most — theater. Every time the conversation turns to the stage, the mood brightens and the stories get juicer, the language bawdier. Then, from off-camera, Michell goes and spoils it all by issuing the tacky prompt to talk about “what it’s like getting old.” Yeesh! The looks on the ladies faces is one of pure indignity, yet they don’t mince words in agreeing with Bette Davis that aging “ain’t for sissies.” To which Dench remarks, “Between the four of us, I think we have three good eyes,” referencing how she and Plowright are dealing with advanced macular degeneration. Three of them also admit, to great laughter, their need for hearing aids

That part is despairing, even more so when we are shown photos of the four women in their youth. All four say they were never what you’d call beautiful, something sexist casting directors regularly reminded them of. But I beg to differ, having developed quite a crush on both Dench and Atkins when they were in their roaring 20’s. The best part, though, is watching each of them receiving their royal honors from either Queen Elizabeth or her son, Prince Charles. They all claim they didn’t really want to accept the title “Dame,” but their prideful expressions suggest otherwise.

They were thrilled, every bit as much as we’re excited to be in their company, even if it is for an all-too-brief 84 minutes. But like any showbiz vet like them will tell you, “Leave them wanting more.” With the exceptional “Tea with the Dames” that’s not only true, but don’t be surprised if you crave a second cup, served just like this one, straight with no sugar.

Lifestyle

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
The Helena-West Helena World - Helena, AR ~ 417 York, Helena, AR 72342 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service